Buddleja plant named ‘Bostulu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Buddleja  plant named ‘Bostulu’, characterized by its violet-blue colored flowers, medium greyed-green to green colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Buddleja hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Bostulu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant botanically known as Buddleja hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Bostulu’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during September 2010. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Buddleja having distinctive flower coloration, good repeat blooming, and well-branched habits.

The new Buddleja cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Blue Chip’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,991, characterized by its violet-blue colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during August 2012 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since August 2012 in Guadalupe, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Bostulu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant:

-   -   1. Violet-blue colored flowers;     -   2. Medium greyed-green to green colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent in being taller and having a bluer flower color.

Of the many commercially available Buddleja cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is FLUTTERBY GRANDE Blueberry Cobbler ‘Podaras #4’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,109. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Podaras #4’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are wider than plants of ‘Podaras         #4’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Podaras #4’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Bostulu’. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for 6 months in an outdoor nursery in Guadalupe, Calif. Plants were pinched at transplant and within two months after transplant. In early June 2013, the plants were transplanted to field conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Bostulu’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Bostulu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in August 2013 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse for two months under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were transplanted and grown for 6 months in one-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery in Guadalupe, Calif. Plants were pinched at transplant and within two months after transplant. In early June 2013, the plants were transplanted to field conditions in West Chicago, Ill. where outdoor temperatures ranged from 88° F. to 67° F. (31° C. to 19° C.) during the day and approximately 74° F. to 41° F. (23° C. to 5° C.) during the night. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Buddleja hybrid cultivar Bostulu. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘Blue Chip’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,991.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 14 to 20 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 12 to 16             weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous white to brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 3 to 4 months from a             rooted cutting to finish in a one-gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             upright-mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 78.0 cm. Width: Approximately 102.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral             branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 5             main branches with 2 to 4 laterals on each main branch.         -   Lateral branch.—Shape: Square becoming round with age.             Strength: Strong. Length to base of inflorescence:             Approximately 20.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 6.0 cm. Texture             of young branches: Densely pubescent with stellate hairs.             Texture of mature branches: Densely pubescent with stellate             hairs, base becomes glabrous with age. Color of young stems:             147C with pubescence of NN155A. Color of mature stems: 147C             and N199B with pubescence of NN155A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:             Approximately 10. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Primarily perpendicular to stem. Shape:             Elliptical. Margin: Serrulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded.             Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Length of mature             leaf: Approximately 9.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.9 cm. Texture of upper surface: Moderately             pubescent with lanulose hairs and glands. Texture of lower             surface: Densely pubescent with lanulose hairs. Color of             upper surface of young foliage: 137A with midvein of 147D,             heavy pubescence gives young foliage a greyed-green             appearance. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 191A             with venation of 194B. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: N137D with midvein of 147D. Color of lower surface             of mature foliage: 191B with venation of 194B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with             lanulose hairs. Color: 147D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Bostulu’ is freely flowering under outdoor             growing conditions blooming from late spring through             mid-fall.         -   Lastingness of individual flower.—Approximately 5 to 7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal panicles, each panicle             having about 2 to 4 branches. Flowers persistent, facing             upward and outward. Quantity of open inflorescences per             plant: Approximately 34. Fragrance: Slightly sweet. Depth or             height of inflorescence: Approximately 15.0 cm. Width:             Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity of flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 150, opening from base to apex.         -   Rachis.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 28.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with stellate hairs. Color: N199B with pubescence of NN155A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single, salverform.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent with stellate hairs. Color of             petals: 94A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Rotate, 4 to 5 petals arranged in a single             whorl. Depth: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 7.0             mm.         -   Petals.—Shape: Rotund. Margin: Erosulate. Apex: Rounded.             Length from throat: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:             94C. Color of lower surface when first and fully open: 94C             to 94D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter of throat opening:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces:             Moderately pubescent. Color of inner surface: 175B with 23B             at throat opening. Color of outer surface: 94C with a tint             of N186D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4 to 5, fused at base. Apex:             Acute. Margin of free portion: Entire. Length: Approximately             4.0 mm. Width: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface:             Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with             stellate hairs. Color of inner surface: N137D. Color of             outer surface: 138A with pubescence of NN155A.         -   Pedicels.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely             pubescent with stellate hairs. Color: 138A with pubescence             of NN155A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per             flower, completely adnate to corolla. Anther shape:             Lanceolate. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther             color: 161C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: NN155A.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, two-parted.             Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: Closest to             144B. Style length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color:             Closest to 145D, opaque. Ovary length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Ovary color: Closest to 144B, densely pubescent. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Buddleja has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant named ‘Bostulu’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 